Google has made history with two federal judges declaring the tech giant a monopoly in search and ad technology within a year. The decisions mark a significant shift in antitrust enforcement, with experts saying they signal that courts are finally grappling with digital market monopolization.
Two federal judges have ruled that Google engaged in anticompetitive behavior to protect its monopoly in online search and ad technology. The rulings come as part of a wave of current antitrust cases challenging the power of tech giants like Meta, Apple, and Amazon.
The government has sued these companies over allegations of anticompetitive behavior, with experts saying that the Google decisions mark an activist turn in antitrust enforcement. “Two courts have reached similar conclusions in product markets that go to the heart of Google’s business,” said William Kovacic, a law professor at George Washington University and former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission.
The court’s decision allows for remedies such as the sale of ad tools or the breakup of the company. However, experts say that drastic measures like breakups are uncertain and influenced by shifting politics. “It’s pretty amazing when you look at the cases filed, the progress so far, and that the government enforcers seem consistently serious,” said Harry First, an antitrust expert at the New York University School of Law.
Google has expressed confidence in its appeal process and contests that its market position is due to innovation and investment rather than anticompetitive tactics. The company’s future in court remains uncertain, with some experts predicting a possible Supreme Court review or settlement under the Trump administration.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/technology/google-antitrust-losses-history.html